FIDE ENGINE FATALITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18678, 7 April 1924, Page 8

FIDE ENGINE FATALITY.

MOTOR STRIKES POLE. ONE FIREMAN KILLED. THREE OTHERS INJURED. ACCIDENT AT DEVONPORT. COLLISION DUE' TO SKID. A sensational motor accident, resulting in loss of life, occurred at Stanley Bay on Saturday evening, when the Devonport Fire Brigade's big Guy carrying seven men, collided with a telegraph pole at the Stanley Bay end of the borough, 1 while answering an alarm of fire. The deputy-superintendent of the brigade, Mr. Jules Le Scelle, was killed outright, and Firemen R. Clark and J. Page, and Constable J. Ruane, of the Devonport police, who was also riding on the fire engine, were more or less seriously injured. ,

The alarm was received about 6.40 p.m., but as no fire was located the alarm was either a false one or the fire was of such small dimensions that it was suppressed by' those immediately concerned. The sounding of the rebel! in Marine Square was responsible for calling the brigade out, and .on reaching the waterfront, the deputy-superintendent learned that "the alarm had oomo from Stanley Bay. Constable Ruane joined the firemen at the wharf, and the engine was headed for the western end of the borough, via Calliope Road.

As far as can be ascertained, the engine was proceeding at a fair pace down the incline of Calliope Road, and when in the dip, and about to take the rise in the road leading to Stanley Point, it apparently skidded across the road, and came into violent contact with the pole. The deputy-superintendent was standing on the forward end of the left-hand running board operating the gong, and behind him were Fireman C. E. Cooper, Constable Ruane, and Fireman Page, in that order. On the other side of the truck were Drives A. Norton, Firemen Clarke and Mouatt. Instantaneous Death. The left-hand side of the truck came in contact with tbo pole, the front wheel just missing the obstruction, but the running boards, mudguards, an equipment on that side of the engine were crushed and broken. Deputy-Superintendent Le Seel!© was jammed between the pole and the body of the engine, and was bo severely ' injured about the hiad and body that death must have been instantaneous.

Fireman Cooper, who was immediately behind Mr. Le Scelle, jumped before the pole reached his position on tie engine, and got off with a severe shaking, but the constable and Fireman Page were thrown violently into the road. Constable Ruane was injured about the head and legs, the ligaments of one knee being badly torn. Fireman Page also received injuries to his head.

The driver escaped injury, l.nt Fireman Clark, who was on the right hand side of the engine, was thrown off, receiving injuries to his back and head. Fireman Mouatt escaped with only minor injuries, but like the others is suffering greatly from shock. ' ;/ Further - Harrow Escape. r The mishap is attributed to the fact that the portion of the road whe,re the skid occurred had collected a considerable amount of silt during the heavy rains, and this reduced the holding powers of the tyres of the heavy truck. The impact was so severe as to practically dislodge the telegraph pole, and the engine was thrown across to .the' bask on the other side of the road. The engine, however, remained upright, and was able to return to the fire' station under , its own power. DeputyiSuperintendent Le Scelle was afterwards found lying in a depression on the side of the road with a ladder which had been hanging on the pole, lying across his back. The emergency 1 engine, a smaller machine, which was following with Foreman Stevens and Firemen Crabb and Wheailey, narrowly escaped running over the injured men, who were lying on the road, the wet state of the load and the darkness of the spot making the control of the car extremely difficult. A Fractured Skull. Dr. H. C. Bennett, of Devonport, was immediately summoned, and he could only announce that Mr. Le Scelle had been killed instantaneously, his ■. skull having been fractured. After medical attention the other men were removed to their homes, and the body of the deputy-super-intendent was taken to the fire station. Air. Le Scelle, who was 63 years of age, was a married man with four children, the youngest of whom is 14 years of age. He lived on the fire station, and was the "father of the brigade,", having been connected with the organisation for laf years. ; '•••., Ail inquest was opened at Devonport yesterday morning, by Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., and alter evidence of identification had been given, was adjourned sine d'e. -. y • The funeral will leave the Devonport fire brigade station at 3 p.m. to-day for O'Neills Point cemetery.